Wood Bows

Wood bows are the traditional choice for stringed instruments. They have a feel all their own and learning each bows' characteristics is a opportunity for some and a challenge for others. They require more care than the typical student fiberglass bow. They must be loosened after playing or the wood will warp and the bow becomes worthless and unplayable. They are affected by weather and humidity, thus altering their tone and characteristics each time you play. They are also a natural fiber, and for some, it is part of the musical experience. There are those who would no more play a man made fiber bow than pick up an electric violin. For these, a part of the music is missing.

Unfortunately, with hard woods becoming more and more scarce, it is becoming expensive, if not impossible, to find fine quality wood bows. The price of a wood bow can range from $20 to $200,000. The low end is generally so bad that you can hardly play with them. The high end are specialty bows, often antiques by old masters, that only professional performers (or collectors) can afford. There IS a middle ground.

Students typically make their first bow upgrade with a $200 - $500 bow. In Alaska, with the extreme weather we experience (i.e. changing temperatures and humidity), the teachers generally recommend using the Glasser (or similar) fiberglass bow rather than a wood bow under $300. The wood in cheap bows tend to have inconsistent playability due to warping, etc. caused by climate changes. In climates where the temperatures and/or humidity tends to be more even, this is probably less of a problem.

A poor quality, warped bow creates a constant fight with the student to get a decent tone. It is extremely frustrating for the student and often causes students to quit music. It would be like handing a carpenter a spoon and telling them to build your dream house.

After the $300 - $500 upgrade, there are so many choices that a bow choice is often guided by the student's ability level and future plans. An advanced student looking toward a music career probably will want a wood bow at least in the $2500 range, or will be looking at the composite alternatives. A student with a limited budget, or seeking to play as an avocation occasionally, will probably be looking at an intermediate range bow (both composite and wood) in the $300 to $1500 range.

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3/12/05 last update